Summary While on passage in British Columbia from Powell Anchorage to Waglisla, the small fishing vessel LoriCathlynn heeled over to starboard, downflooded and capsized to starboard in Seaforth Channel off Campbell Island. The vessel was transporting herring spawn on kelp in tote boxes on deck. The weather and sea were relatively calm at the time. All five members of the crew were safely recovered. Ce rapport est galement disponible en franais. Other Factual Information Particulars of the vessel Description of the vessel The LoriCathlynn is a wooden fishing vessel with an aluminum house forward of amidships. The hull is divided into five compartments: forepeak, lower cabin, engine-room, fish hold and lazarette. The lower cabin forward has accommodation for four crew members. The upper deck of the house is aluminum with the wheelhouse occupying the forward part, the skipper's cabin, a washroom and a galley/mess room aft. There are outside ladders from the afterdeck to the cabin top and an inside vertical ladder between the starboard side of the wheelhouse and the lower cabin. The fish hold is subdivided into three parts. As fish cargo is often transported in a slush-mix of ice and water, the compartments are also termed fish tanks. The fish holds extend aft, enclosed by the weather deck, upon which a net drum (or reel) is mounted at the stern. Located aft of the superstructure, one deck hatch, with a coaming, gives access to three watertight compartments, which comprise the centrally divided forward port and starboard and the after fish holds. Two small flush deck scuttles are located on each side of the deck hatch, and one small flush deck scuttle located aft gives access to the lazarette. (SeeFigure1, Typical layout) The LoriCathlynn, like many small fishing vessels on the West Coast, is fitted with roll-dampening paravanes. Held from a vertically hinged pole (outrigger) on each side of the vessel at midships, a roll-dampening paravane consists of a steel, delta-shaped fin connected to approximately 2 m of chain, which is suspended from the outer end of the outrigger by a nylon braided rope. The rope runs from the extreme end of the outrigger and the rope end thimble is shackled to the chain on the suspended paravanes (see Figure 2). History of the Voyage At approximately 0445 Pacific standard time on 28 March 2000,2 the LoriCathlynn, with a crew of five, departed Waglisla, British Columbia (B.C.). The vessel was bound for Powell Anchorage on the south coast of the Don Peninsula, where the herring spawn on kelp harvesting pounds are located (seeAppendixB). The two forward port and starboard fish tanks were approximately 50 per cent filled with seawater ballast (18,000 lbs). The fuel and fresh water tanks were almost full. During the day the vessel loaded spawn on kelp in 15 totes on decks, for a total load of approximately 9,000lbs. At approximately 2000 the vessel left Powell Anchorage. In order to counteract the rolling motion of the ship upon entering the Seaforth Passage, the skipper ordered the roll-dampening paravanes deployed. At approximately 2130 the vessel took a sudden yaw to starboard and heeled to starboard. The skipper took action by steering to port. For a brief moment the vessel recovered from the starboard roll and again heeled rapidly to starboard, and remained on the starboard side. With the vessel listed approximately 50 to 60 to starboard, the skipper transmitted a Mayday call via VHF channel 7A and set the main engine controls to the neutral position. With the assistance of the skipper, the two crew members who were sleeping in the lower cabin were able to climb into the wheelhouse and escape through the port wheelhouse window. The skipper followed them. Meanwhile, the two crew members who were in the galley climbed to the port side of the vessel. In less than two minutes, the vessel progressively downflooded and capsized, but remained afloat (seeAppendixA). The crew did not have time to collect or don either immersion suits or life jackets but managed to climb onto and stand on the upturned hull. In response to the Mayday broadcast, a nearby fishing vessel, the BackEddy, was able to rescue the survivors within approximately five minutes. The Fast Rescue Craft from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Bella Bella arrived on scene around 2140 to assist in the rescue. One member of the crew was transported to the hospital in Waglisla, B.C., where he received treatment for mild hypothermia. The LoriCathlynn was taken in tow to Shearwater, B.C., for salvage, inspection and repairs (seeAppendixC, Photos1and2). There was no injury or pollution as a result of this occurrence. Department of Fisheries and Oceans Licences According to the information received from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the LoriCathlynn has not been designated as a catcher vessel for a herring spawn on kelp licence. The vessel would be permitted to transport herring spawn on kelp under the authority of the CA licence. This type of licence is issued to vessels typically when salmon licences are not yet available for issue in a given year. It is granted to vessel owners who wish to participate in transporting activities or to fish for Schedule II Category C species. Both these activities are permitted under the authority of a salmon A licence. Vessel Certification, Training and Personnel History The LoriCathlynn was issued a Ship Inspection Certificate (SIC 29) by Transport Canada, Marine Safety (TCMS) valid until 15 June 2002. To command a fishing vessel of the size and type of the LoriCathlynn, the Crewing Regulations do not provide requirements for the employment of master and mates in respect of a fishing vessel or ship engaged in transferring to shore the catch of a fishing vessel. The skipper was not required to hold a Transport Canada certificate to command a fishing vessel of this size and type. The skipper on board the LoriCathlynn had extensive experience operating fishing vessels of similar tonnage. With the exception of the skipper, none of the other crew members had attended Marine Emergency Duties (MED) training nor were they required to do so under the Canada Shipping Act (CSA) regulations. However, Transport Canada has submitted an amendment to the Crewing Regulations that will require all Fishing Vessel crew members to attend MED training by 30 July 2002. Weather and Current Information The weather was described as overcast and dark, with southwesterly winds at 10 knots and with small wavelets. The weather was not a factor in this occurrence. Canadian Hydrographic Service Chart No 3787 indicates variation of depth from 30 to 14 fathoms at the location of the occurrence, in approximate position 5213.0' N, 12810.13' W. Stability Requirements Further to modifications carried out to the vessel in 1989, the review of the vessel's roll test report submitted to TCMS indicates that the vessel's stability for fishing operations is adequate. This report is for the worst operating condition, with brine in the forward fish holds, ice or dry cargo in the aft hold, and no deck cargo. Small fishing vessels engaged in packing operations (not engaged in the herring or capelin fisheries) are not required to submit stability data. Evaluation of the stability of the vessel in 1989 was completed by a firm of naval architects and consultants and found acceptable by the TCMS office. No modifications had been made to the hull or equipment since that date. The stability conditions reflecting the vessel's loading conditions and modes of operation were not calculated and were not required to be submitted for regulatory approval. Loading, trim, and stability conditions for the vessel were not carried on board, nor were they available for the guidance of the skipper when operating as a packer or in fishing operations. Life-saving Equipment In accordance with Transport Canada requirements, the life-saving equipment on board the vessel included an approved life jacket for each person on board. The vessel also carried immersion suits for each person on board to meet the requirements of Part 24 of the Diving, Fishing and Other Marine Operations Regulations made pursuant to the B.C. Workers' Compensation Act; there is no requirement for the carriage of immersion suits for such vessels in the Canada Shipping Act (CSA) regulations. Under the Small Fishing Vessel Inspection Regulations, the LoriCathlynn, being less than 20m long, was not required to carry an emergency position indicating radio beacon. According to the report of the last inspection completed by TCMS, the vessel was required to carry an aluminum skiff and an inflatable life raft for eight persons. At the time of the occurrence neither an aluminum skiff nor a life raft were on board the vessel.